Tolstoy comes from one of the old Russian noble families. During his military service, he began his first writing works. In 1857 and 1860/61, Tolstoy undertook two trips abroad, which took him to Northern Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, England, and Germany. Since 1862, Tolstoy lived almost continuously on his estate. Here, in addition to his work as a writer, he devoted himself primarily to practical humanitarian tasks, such as establishing an estate school.